This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Yizhen Zheng
Background
When your Windows username contains non-ASCII characters (Japanese, Chinese, etc.), conda cannot be installed in the default user directory path. This will cause a common conda init
inside that path cannot setup terminal automatically. This guide shows how to setup conda scripts manually.
Installation Setup
1. Install Conda in ASCII-only Path
- Install conda in a path without non-ASCII characters, such as
C:\miniconda
2. Configure Conda script and PowerShell Profile
Since conda's automatic initialization may not work properly with non-ASCII usernames, you need to manually configure PowerShell:
- Create/edit PowerShell profile:
notepad $PROFILE
If the file doesn't exist, create it when prompted.
Add conda initialization to the profile file:
$ENV:PATH = "C:\miniconda\condabin;" + $ENV:PATH
ReplaceC:\miniconda
with your actual conda installation path.Save and restart PowerShell
Set execution policy (run PowerShell as Administrator)(needed in some cases):
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser
3. Verify Installation
After restarting PowerShell, you should see (base)
in your prompt, indicating conda is active.
Environment Management
Creating and Using Virtual Environments
# Create new environment with specific Python version
conda create -n myenv python=3.12
# Activate environment
conda activate myenv
# Verify Python version
python -V
# Install packages
conda install package_name
# or
pip install package_name
# Deactivate environment
conda deactivate
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Yizhen Zheng

Yizhen Zheng | Sciencx (2025-09-08T02:17:36+00:00) Conda and Python Setup for Non-ASCII Windows Usernames. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/09/08/conda-and-python-setup-for-non-ascii-windows-usernames-2/
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